Dogs returned after woman pleads guilty in animal cruelty case

A dog wanders a fenced yard at 9400 Hillview Drive, where the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant Tuesday to check the welfare of 68 dogs allegedly being hoarded inside. Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding said the former church had been converted into a home and kennels.(Photo: Tori Fater/Evansville Courier & Press)Buy Photo

Twenty-one dogs were ordered returned to the woman accused of hoarding them Friday — after she pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Martha Crosley, 68, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty in Vanderburgh Superior Court. Magistrate J. August Straus sentenced her to one year of probation and ordered her to perform 100 hours of community service.

Over the objections of a prosecutor and animal control officials, however, Straus ordered 21 dogs returned to her under strict supervision.

The dogs were what remained from the 68 dogs removed from her property at 9400 Hillview Drive in February. The dogs are under the supervision of Evansville-Vanderburgh County Animal Care & Control, either at its shelter or in foster care.

At her sentencing hearing Friday, Crosley testified that she and her husband had established a rescue sanctuary for elderly dogs facing euthanasia, spending thousands of dollars to buy and prepare the former church building on Hillview Drive, as well as on food and veterinary care.

According to Crosley's testimony, it all went wrong beginning in January when her husband began experiencing severe health problems leading to his hospitalization. She said that left her unable to care for the dogs as well as before.

"I cannot tell you how hard it is to know that my dogs are out there, even though they are being cared for, without me in their lives," she said.

Crosley said she believed she could adequately care for the animals since there would be fewer of them, and that she had made improvements to the property since the dogs were removed.

However, Deputy Prosecutor Emily Hall argued that Crosley was making the situation about herself when it should be about the animals.

Animal Control Superintendent Alisa Webster testified that the dogs had gained weight and improved in health under the care of foster families and the animal shelter.

Webster and Animal Control Officer Kelly Yarde testified that they visited Crosley several times in January and February and each time conditions appeared to have worsened for the dogs.

"They attempted to work with her and she continuously didn't follow through," Hall said.

Straus ordered Crosley not to obtain more animals and to follow the conditions set out by Animal Control officials.